Resiliency Resources

  1. Managing Risk In Water Utilities: From Compliance To True Resilience 6/2/2026
    When thinking about minimizing risk, it used to be enough for utilities to focus on highly visible assets such as reservoirs and storage tanks using deterrents like chain-link fences, locked doors and cameras. Today, that’s no longer enough.
  2. Why You Can't Patch Your Way Out Of The Latest Water Utility Threats 5/22/2026
    Iranian-linked hackers have successfully exploited PLCs at water utilities and energy facilities across the U.S., resulting in operational disruptions and massive financial loss. For many water utility executives, the immediate and instinctive reaction is to look for a patch. But in this case, there is no simple vendor fix.
  3. My Top 5 Thoughts Of The Month In Water 5/13/2026
    Every week, the water industry hands us a fresh set of challenges, breakthroughs, and moments worth pausing on. Here are the five stories and trends running through my head this week and, of course, why they matter for the professionals who keep the taps flowing.
  4. Innovations In Drought-Resilience Infrastructure Financing 5/5/2026
    To build drought-resilience in water utilities, it is critical to be able to respond to water supply threats quickly. That also means it's essential to have the necessary financing solutions. The question is, then, where does the money come from?
  5. Applying Two Flood Models To Cross-Check And Improve Each Other — And Maybe Saving A Downstream Village In The Process 5/1/2026
    Getting a second opinion is a time-tested piece of wisdom. During a recent project for a municipal water supply utility, we found that this advice also applies to modeling the effects storms have on the municipality’s reservoirs and dams, and the potential flooding impacts downstream of the dams.
  6. What Is The Future Of Source Water Protection? 4/28/2026
    Water utility managers and municipal leaders have long struggled amid the convergence of several threats to public water supplies. During a recent Water Online Live event, I sat with a panel of industry experts to examine the transition from reactive crisis management to a proactive, adaptive resilience framework.
  7. Heavy Rain On Snow Is Testing Aging Dams Across Michigan And Wisconsin — This Is The Future In A Warming World 4/22/2026
    For much of Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as northern Illinois, 2026 has been the wettest March and April on record. The region’s aging water infrastructure was never designed for the volume of water it is facing. That’s a troubling sign for the future, with flooding becoming more common as global temperatures rise.
  8. The Industry Has Money, Technology, And Urgency — So Why Is Nothing Moving Faster? (7 Takeaways From The Water Week 2026 Press Conference) 4/20/2026

    The water industry faces a critical disconnect between available federal funding and project execution. As workforce shortages and regulatory risks accelerate, stakeholders must bridge the communication gap to ensure long-term resilience and infrastructure stability. Hear from Water Online's publisher, Travis Kennedy, about these topics and more that were discussed at Water Week 2026.

  9. A Smarter Path For Small Wastewater Systems 4/7/2026

    Small wastewater facilities face rising risks from aging infrastructure and tightening standards. Rather than pursuing costly total replacements, communities can utilize targeted engineering and process optimization to manage flow variability, reduce energy costs, and ensure long-term affordability.

  10. Winter's Alarmingly Low Snowpack Offers A Glimpse Of The Changing Rhythm Of Water In The Western U.S. 4/1/2026
    The April 1 snowpack measurement has long been the single most important number in western water management, considered a strong proxy for how much water the mountains are holding in reserve. But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient.